Tiger Shooting. 13 



limes at a hundred yards than I missed, and here the 

 object to be struck was not more than fifty yards off. 

 As a rule I am a snap shot, but firing at a mark of 

 course I align the sights. On this occasion I brought 

 the fore sight to bear in the centre of the two white 

 spots, but three or four inches lower. I was as steady 

 as a rock, and gradually pressed the trigger, holding 

 my breath the while. A bang the smoke hung 

 badly and when it cleared, nothing was to be seen. I 

 was afraid I had missed, but could scarcely credit it, 

 as I never fired more steadily in my life, so I asked 

 falteringly, " Has he run away ? " " Ne, Sahib," said 

 Mogul Beg, " murgya" He stepped into the rivulet, 

 and I followed and found a fine tiger, measuring nine 

 feet nine inches in length, and proportionately heavy, 

 lying dead. That was one of the happiest moments 

 of my early experiences ; the ball had struck the 

 junction of the head and neck and death must have 

 been instantaneous. 



On another occasion I had to keep tryst with some 

 friends, with whom I was going on a shooting trip, 

 into the Nizam's country that borders on the banks 

 of the Godavery, the rendezvous being Eagapore. I 

 was then temporarily with the headquarters of my 

 regiment, at the time stationed at Samulcottah. A 

 month's leave w T as granted me, and Tom Prendergast, 

 the Collector, having kindly sent on a purwannah 

 to the Deputy-Commissioner of Rajahniimdry 

 and given me a general order on all native 

 officials within his province to aid me in all 

 things. I " daked " out to Eajahniundiy, crossed 

 the river and got into a hackery, or native cart, 

 which awaited my arrival. My guns and heavy 

 baggage had been sent on some days before via, 



